Hi there, I've decided to buy the Canon 7D body, what do you think I should get as my first lens?

I was thinking the EF 50mm f/ 1.8 as it's only about $120, or do you think I should go for the 1.4. I just don't understand the difference?

I also want to buy a fish eye, I saw the ef 15mm F/ 2.8 takes amaizing photos, but should I bother with a such an expensive lens if I don't have a full frame camera? I am new to the whole dslr world so I don't understand the full frame differnece, a friend tryed explaining but i just dont get it!?:blushing:

I will mainly be taking photos of people (make up before and afters), events (again people), night time, and creative photography again mainly people and animals.

Also what is a good general lens that is really affordable. I can borrow a friends 18 -55mm, should I get my own of the same or is 18-85mm better?

What is a good lens just for general photography? I'am going on a holiday soon and also I've got a few weddings to go to in october, and my friend asked if I would take some amateur photos for her along size with the pro photographer.

If you are tight in budget, you maybe better off getting a camera body that cost less and use the extra money to buy a better lens.

Light ---(entering lens)---> Bad Lens ---(bad image)---> pro DSLR camera sensor
So the pro camera is able to capture every single details of the BAD image

Light ---(entering lens)---> Good Lens ---(good image)---> consumer DSLR camera sensor
So the consumer camera is able to capture detail image of a GOOD image.

So which setup can produce a better photograph at the end?

If you just want to buy a lens and start learning, the kit lens 18-55mm IS lens is not a bad choice. If you do not want to upgrade the lens anytime soon, the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 is a good choice. (Quality lens for lower cost)

Of course, Canon have few other good lens that cost more such as EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM and 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM are pretty good.

As for EF 50mm f/1.8 II vs EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
f/1.4 version is better because ...
- Better build quality
- Metal mount instead of plastic
- Fast autofocus (AF)
- Less AF noise
- More aperture blades => better bokeh look
- Has distance scale
- Full time manual focus and the manual focus ring is better (the one in f/1.8 II is located in the front of the lens and is tiny)

I would say buy a cheaper body. A 50D body can be had for under 800 on ebay. Then I would also recommed a 17-40L used at about 600-650. Cheaper than a 7D kit and MUCH better suited to your needs. You can always add the 50mm 1.8 and still come out ahead.